Trump asks black reporter to set up meeting with "friends" in Congressional Black Caucus

During a frenzied marathon of a press conference Thursday, President Donald Trump asked black veteran journalist April Ryan if she was "friends" with members of the Congressional Black Caucus and requested she set up a meeting with them.

Ryan asked Trump a question about his plans to help "inner cities," a main tenet of his campaign platform. In a follow-up, Ryan questioned whether Trump planned to work with the Congressional Black Caucus — an organization of black members of Congress — to implement policies aimed at people of color living in cities.

When Ryan referred to the caucus as the "CBC," Trump seemed confused as to whom Ryan was referring.

Reporter: Will you meet with the Congressional Black Caucus? Trump: "I would. You want to set up the meeting? Are they friends of yours?" https://t.co/8Pp18KBUJd

"Well, I would. I tell you what, do you want to set up the meeting?" Trump said, interrupting Ryan. "Do you want to set up the meeting?"

"No, I'm just a reporter," Ryan responded.

"Are they friends of yours?" Trump snapped back. "Set up the meeting."

People on Twitter were not happy with Trump's remarks to the journalist.

I don't think trump knew that CBC stands for Congressional Black Caucus. Good thing April Ryan explained it to him.

Geez I wonder why he assumed April Ryan is "friends" with members of the Congressional Black Caucus?

Again, #DonaldTrump does not care about Black people.

Did he just ask #AprilRyan if the Congressional Black Caucus are friends of hers? Because we ALL know each other (&amp; look alike) amirite?

Some Twitter users called out Trump's condescending tone. Prior to taking her question, the president told Ryan she was "very professional and very good."

Not shocked at Trump's misogynoir treatment of April Ryan. He's a birther + he thinks sexually assaulting women is a perk of being famous.

That was very professional and very good," Trump to April Ryan, who has been covering the White House for over 20 years.

"I am a journalist, not a convener!" Ryan wrote on Twitter after the encounter.

I am a journalist not a convener! But thank you for answering my questions. https://t.co/fe9cGXG46w

The Congressional Black Caucus also responded to Trump's comments on Twitter, saying it sent a letter to Trump — then the president-elect — and have yet to hear back from him.

Hi, @realDonaldTrump. We're the CBC. We sent you a letter on January 19, but you never wrote us back. Sad! Letter: https://t.co/58KiuHmITF

Ryan made headlines earlier this week when she said she was physically intimidated by Omarosa Manigault, Trump's director of communications for the Office of Public Liaison. Ryan claimed Manigault said the White House had "dossiers" on many black journalists.